Davis-Clark still ailing

Harlon Barnett met with reporters today moments after giving a pep talk to Kendell Davis-Clark, who badly wants to return to the field but whose shoulder won't let him.

    You can count Davis-Clark out of Saturday's game, and then Barnett said MSU expects next week to "hear from doctors about his situation." In other words, is it healing well enough on its own? If not, it sounds like surgery and a long-term absence are possibilities.
    Barnett relayed a story to illustrate Davis-Clark's toughness. He hurt the shoulder tackling Jahvid Best in the opener and the coaching staff ruled him out for the night. But he returned briefly.
    "The thing popped out," Barnett said, "and he wanted to come back in."
    Ross Weaver has been taking reps at safety, although Barnett said he likely won't move from corner this week. If the news on Davis-Clark next week is bad, then you might see Weaver switch. Meanwhile, MSU was much happier with Danny Fortener's play at the position against Eastern Michigan.
    And the Weaver move isn't necessarily a short-term fix only, Barnett said. He has the size and intelligence to play there, and MSU will lose Otis Wiley after this season.
    Johnny Adams' emergence at corner is another factor. Jeremy Ware, too. If Weaver moves, I'd expect one of those two to start opposite Chris L. Rucker. Mark Dantonio compared Adams to Renaldo Hill the other day, and Barnett said he reminds him of former NFL corner Randy Hilliard, a Barnett teammate in the pros.
    "By the time we get into Big Ten action, who knows? He may be playing even more, (maybe) the majority of snaps," Barnett said of Adams.
    As for true freshmen Brynden Trawick and Charles Burrell, Barnett said he expects both to be good players, but doesn't expect either to be ready this season. Safety takes a lot more time than corner to master at this level.
    Dan Enos also spoke with reporters tonight. He indicated that Andre Anderson has improved his standing with Saturday's performance, but that the gap remains small between Anderson, Ashton Leggett and A.J. Jimmerson.
    Asked if he was worried about Javon Ringer carrying 30-plus times a game, Enos gave an emphatic "no."
    "We actually think the more carries he gets, the better he plays," Enos said. "He wears people down."

    Now, a couple event reminders.
    * Here's a press release I got today on a competition aimed at students. You can get on the Big Ten Network's "Friday Night Tailgate" show.
    WHAT:     Every week during the 2008 College Football season, Solo Cup is traveling to a different Big Ten University to host the “Solo Cup Stacking Challenge” at the hottest on-campus locations.

This week, the Spartans will compete to win the title of the fastest cup stacker on campus. The Michigan State University student who out-stacks the competition will win a prize package on behalf of the Big Ten Network and Solo Cup Company.  The winner will also be entered into a drawing at the end of the 12-week season for a chance to win passes and accommodations for the Big Ten Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis. 

WHEN:     Thursday, September 18, 2008, 9-9:30 p.m.

WHERE:  The Riviera Café (the Riv), 231 Mac Ave, East Lansing

WHY:        Not everybody can be a Big Ten athlete but they can go for the title of Michigan State University’s Solo Cup Stacking Champion and try to beat the current fastest time, a record set at University at Illinois, clocking in at 8.47 seconds. Footage from this Thursday’s competition will be featured on Friday Night Tailgate on the Big Ten Network.

MORE      Michigan State University students don’t need to worry if they can’t make it to the Riviera Café. Big Ten students can still get their 15 minutes of fame by submitting a video online at

INFO:          http://www.bigtennetwork.com/fnt/Friday-Night-Tailgate-Solo-Cup-Videos.asp, showing off their cup stacking skills. Some videos may even make it on-air this season!

Ah, Thursday nights at the Riv.

    * We're launching a redesigned greenandwhite.com, complete with live stats during games and a really cool game recap each week with the game story, photo gallery and video from the postgame interviews. Check it out. We'll celebrate next Wednesday, the 17th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Reno's East in East Lansing. Stop by for prizes, appetizers, a trivia challenge and a chance to ask questions of me, sports editor Mark Meyer, assistant sports editor Barry Kiel, reporter Chris Solari and hockey writer Neil Koepke. Prizes include tickets to the MSU-Purdue football game.

Comments

[xwing]

the main key to msu's pass defense this year will be the d-line's pass rush. if they don't start getting one soon msu's secondary will get exposed sooner or later. i like msu's secondary though. i don't think they have looked this good in a years.

[T Bone]

I agree with xwing. If a QB has all day to look down field, a wr is bound to get open. Can't cover them forever. Still waiting on the DL to have a coming out party. Hopefully its this saturday. GO GREEN!! GO WHITE!!

[Spartan58]

Well, we wish CDK the best in a speedy recovery and that he can get back soon.

Looks like rain for all day tomorrow, wet football, wet grass. Should slow things down a bit for both sides, hopefully are DBs can still keep up with their guys.

I have to think this helps us with the run game. As long as we can hang onto the ball, I don't think JR will be a problem but I worry about the other younger backs hanging onto the ball in wet conditions, with limited playing experience.

Could be a ugly game but I think the rain helps us more than it hurts us.

GO GREEN!

[Spartan58]

what an idiot.... guy, go find another sand box to play in.

GO GREEN!

[SpartyAlum03]

Over/Under on badgersRbest age = 11

[Mark Feather]

badgersRbest has been banned... may take up to 24 hours to register. Ignore him.

[Rooster]

If we get way ahead in this game the coaches should put Burrell and Trawick into the game.
Johnny Adams is the real thing...look for him to start by mid year!

[David]

Rooster: From what I hear from Spartanmag.com, they are planning to redshirt both Burrell & Trawick. The coaches have said both have talent, but have a lot to learn before stepping onto the field in a game.

Adams, on the other hand, is working his way up the depth chart. You might be right about his starting by mid year. He seems to have very good instincts to play CB, + he's arguably the fastest player on the team.

Hey Joe: a guy I want to know more about is Tyler Hoover. He was MSU's 2nd highest rated prospect (at least according to Rivals.com) and many pundits said he would likely be starting by mid-season. So far I've only seen him in mop-up duty vs. Eastern. I realize the season is young, but is he coming along on-schedule? The D-line could certainly use a boost - especially when it comes to pressuring the QB. What are you hearing?

Lycurgus13

[schilla1]

I have a bad feeling about Davis-Clark. Red Shirt?

[Spartan Fan in Yorkville]

I attended MSU 74 thru 78, and had season tickets for 29 of the past 34 years. Folks I have witnessed many good and not so good athelets at MSU. I can tell you unequivically, KDC is one of the worst cover guys I have ever watched. Yes he's a fine physical speciman that can put a good stick on someone, but he's dumber than a box of rocks. He practically single handedly lost the UM game last year. He was the cover guy on 2 of the last 3 TD's UM scored; and his late hit out of bounds on a 3rd and long late in the game cost us the ball and 1 of the last 3 TD's mentined above. I don't know what some people are drinking or smoking, but in my crowd KDC is not considered very good.

[Spartan Fan in Yorkville]

I attended MSU 74 thru 78, and had season tickets for 29 of the past 34 years. Folks I have witnessed many good and not so good athelets at MSU. I can tell you unequivically, KDC is one of the worst cover guys I have ever watched. Yes he's a fine physical speciman that can put a good stick on someone, but he's dumber than a box of rocks. He practically single handedly lost the UM game last year. He was the cover guy on 2 of the last 3 TD's UM scored; and his late hit out of bounds on a 3rd and long late in the game cost us the ball and 1 of the last 3 TD's mentined above. I don't know what some people are drinking or smoking, but in my crowd KDC is not considered very good.

[Spartan Fan in Yorkville]

Don't know how the schilla1 duplicate posting preceded mine. Have never posted on this blog before; maybe I should find a box of rocks to submit my next posting.

Go State!!!

[Spartan Fan in Yorkville]

Don't know how the schilla1 duplicate posting preceded mine. Have never posted on this blog before; maybe I should find a box of rocks to submit my next posting.

Go State!!!

[Spartan Fan in Yorkville]

I found a box of rocks. I'm going to play catch in the backyard now with my box of rocks. Looking forward to visting the campus next weekend to see MSU crush the Irish!!

[spartan fan]

Hey....'bama Spartan:

Where the heck are ya?? I miss all those pearls of wisdom.

Counting them chickens??

[rudedog]

Flying in from South Fla. for ND game any tickets for sale out there? 941-916-4090
Sparty On!!!